The government on Thursday reached out to the Congress seeking its support for passage of the crucial GST bill, which has been stuck due to stiff resistance by the main Opposition party.
The government on Thursday reached out to the Congress seeking its support for passage of the crucial GST bill, which has been stuck due to stiff resistance by the main Opposition party.
Information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who earlier handled the parliamentary affairs portfolio, called up Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy Anand Sharma to seek the Congress’ backing for passage of the crucial bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament starting July 18. “Yes, we had talked,” Mr Azad said when asked if there was such a call from Mr Naidu.
A meeting of top Congress leaders, including Mr Azad and Mr Sharma, with finance minister Arun Jaitley is likely on Friday.
When asked about the meeting with the government, Mr Azad said, “Yes, we are meeting. The meeting will take place, after that we will tell you.”
Asked what could be the Congress stand at the meeting, Mr Azad said, “I can’t say without having a meeting with them and finally deciding on it. We shall have to talk to our friends and allies also.”
